NATO praises Germany over Patriot delivery – DW – 10/07/2023

NATO’s Jens Stoltenberg has praised Germany’s decision to deliver another Patriot air defense system to Kyiv but said Russian President Vladimir Putin must be stopped amid his decision to invade Ukraine.

“I understand the concerns that our support for Ukraine carries the risk of escalation, but the risk pales in comparison to allowing Putin to win this war,” he Secretary General of the military alliance told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper. “If Putin wins the war in Ukraine, he will probably use force again.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had expressed concerns of “escalation” when explaining his decision not to deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, adding it is important that “Germany does not become part of the conflict.”

Russia has fired missiles at the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa, striking a residential building, as well as a grain warehouse, Ukrainian media reported on Saturday.

Four people were wounded in the strike, according to local authorities. Russian military forces fired Onyx missiles from launchers on the occupied Crimean peninsula, according to the reports.

Meanwhile, the Russian army said it had taken out an approaching Ukrainian drone near Moscow on Saturday morning. 

jsi/dj (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)